I've been prototyping boxes (to eventually be cut out of hardwood) using MDF
and began to wonder if it'd be possible to apply some kind of lacquer-like
decorative finish to the MDF. I've posted a photo of some sample parts to
news://alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking and will appreciate suggestions.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

I made a work table for my shop - put about 10 coats of poly on it.
Works great.
Glue and everything else just scrapes off.
and when it gets beat up - I just sand and repoly.

Been great for a few years now.

"Morris Dovey" wrote in message
...
I've been prototyping boxes (to eventually be cut out of hardwood) using
MDF
and began to wonder if it'd be possible to apply some kind of lacquer-like
decorative finish to the MDF. I've posted a photo of some sample parts to
news://alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking and will appreciate suggestions.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

"Rob V" wrote in message
. com...
I made a work table for my shop - put about 10 coats of poly on it.
Works great.
Glue and everything else just scrapes off.
and when it gets beat up - I just sand and repoly.

Been great for a few years now.

Wonder if it they could be dipped and hung?

In article ,
"Morris Dovey" wrote:

I've been prototyping boxes (to eventually be cut out of hardwood) using MDF
and began to wonder if it'd be possible to apply some kind of lacquer-like
decorative finish to the MDF. I've posted a photo of some sample parts to
news://alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking and will appreciate suggestions.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

There are companies who make lacquer-based primers which have good
filling ability. I would fully expect the end grain to get all furry
though. Sanding parts like that would be a chore.
Too much paint, and you'll lose at that nifty detail.
Would shellac raise much of that grain?

"Robatoy" wrote in message
...
In article ,

There are companies who make lacquer-based primers which have good
filling ability. I would fully expect the end grain to get all furry
though. Sanding parts like that would be a chore.
Too much paint, and you'll lose at that nifty detail.
Would shellac raise much of that grain?

My first impulse was to harden the surface with shellac, sand off the fuzz,
shellac again, sand again very lightly, and spray with high-gloss
something. It's identifying the something that I'm unsure about.

End grain (any kind of grain) isn't much of a problem with MDF (-:

The hardwood (maple and cherry) versions will get all the TLC they need
(without much regard for how much of a chore it might be - they're intended
to be gifts and I have half the year left to get this job finished. They'll
be sanded, scraped, and treated to a BLO finish.

I was actually kind of hoping that some kind soul would volunteer that MDF
just isn't worth the effort. g

But s I'll check out the lacquer-based primers. Thanks.

--
Morris

Morris Dovey wrote:
"Robatoy" wrote in message
...

In article ,


There are companies who make lacquer-based primers which have good
filling ability. I would fully expect the end grain to get all furry
though. Sanding parts like that would be a chore.
Too much paint, and you'll lose at that nifty detail.
Would shellac raise much of that grain?


My first impulse was to harden the surface with shellac, sand off the fuzz,
shellac again, sand again very lightly, and spray with high-gloss
something. It's identifying the something that I'm unsure about.

End grain (any kind of grain) isn't much of a problem with MDF (-:

The hardwood (maple and cherry) versions will get all the TLC they need
(without much regard for how much of a chore it might be - they're intended
to be gifts and I have half the year left to get this job finished. They'll
be sanded, scraped, and treated to a BLO finish.

I was actually kind of hoping that some kind soul would volunteer that MDF
just isn't worth the effort. g

But s I'll check out the lacquer-based primers. Thanks.

--
Morris


I use MDF quite a bit, like any timber project the finish is directly
proportional to the preparation. Sand the edges with 120 paper, then
sand all over including the edge again with 240 paper. Apply one coat of
your chosen finish and when dry sand of the bloom with 240 or finer
paper and apply a second coat. Apply as many coats of finish as you like
following the manufactures direction and there you have it. You can also
use woodstains to put a bit of colour into the item. Apply these before
the first finishing coat so that they strike into the wood.
Good luck
John

On Sat, 21 May 2005 18:07:13 -0400, the inscrutable "Buck Frobisher"
spake:

"Rob V" wrote in message
.com...
I made a work table for my shop - put about 10 coats of poly on it.
Works great.
Glue and everything else just scrapes off.
and when it gets beat up - I just sand and repoly.

Been great for a few years now.

Wonder if it they could be dipped and hung?

That sounds like something the Puritans did to witches way back
when...

-
The only reason I would take up exercising is || http://diversify.com
so that I could hear heavy breathing again. || Programmed Websites

"John B" wrote in message
...

I use MDF quite a bit, like any timber project the finish is directly
proportional to the preparation. Sand the edges with 120 paper, then
sand all over including the edge again with 240 paper. Apply one coat of
your chosen finish and when dry sand of the bloom with 240 or finer
paper and apply a second coat. Apply as many coats of finish as you like
following the manufactures direction and there you have it. You can also
use woodstains to put a bit of colour into the item. Apply these before
the first finishing coat so that they strike into the wood.

Thanks!
--
Morris

"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 21 May 2005 18:07:13 -0400, the inscrutable "Buck Frobisher"
spake:

"Rob V" wrote in message
r.com...
I made a work table for my shop - put about 10 coats of poly on it.
Works great.
Glue and everything else just scrapes off.
and when it gets beat up - I just sand and repoly.

Been great for a few years now.

Wonder if it they could be dipped and hung?

That sounds like something the Puritans did to witches way back
when...

Hee hee hee! Or another legal firm's name..?

Look at Zinsser "Bin" primer, which is tinted shellac.

http://www.zinsser.com/product_detail.asp?ProductID=10

You can also tint that product...

Morris Dovey wrote:

"Robatoy" wrote in message
...

In article ,


There are companies who make lacquer-based primers which have good
filling ability. I would fully expect the end grain to get all furry
though. Sanding parts like that would be a chore.
Too much paint, and you'll lose at that nifty detail.
Would shellac raise much of that grain?


My first impulse was to harden the surface with shellac, sand off the fuzz,
shellac again, sand again very lightly, and spray with high-gloss
something. It's identifying the something that I'm unsure about.

End grain (any kind of grain) isn't much of a problem with MDF (-:

The hardwood (maple and cherry) versions will get all the TLC they need
(without much regard for how much of a chore it might be - they're intended
to be gifts and I have half the year left to get this job finished. They'll
be sanded, scraped, and treated to a BLO finish.

I was actually kind of hoping that some kind soul would volunteer that MDF
just isn't worth the effort. g

But s I'll check out the lacquer-based primers. Thanks.

--
Morris